Counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

Counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment, comprising an operating system for weight-training equipment ( 1 ), wherein the initial movement of the pedal or hand bar ( 2 ) of the physical-exercise equipment ( 5 ) is performed without effort on the part of the user and upon reaching a specific position of the travel thereof the system then automatically exerts force in the opposite direction in order to return the pedal or hand bar to the initial position thereof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage Application, filed under 35 U.S.C. §371, of International Application No. PCT/BR2012/000456, filed Nov. 14, 2012, which claims priority to and the benefit of Brazilian Application No. BR102012011320-1, filed May 14, 2012; the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present patent of invention relates to a practical and innovative counter-force system for application on muscle-building exercise equipment, belonging to the field of articles for gymnastics, developed for use on all types of muscle-building equipment for eccentric exercises, which has been developed with a view to improve the use of muscle-building equipment, as well as the performance thereof.

Therefore, the object of the patent application in question is a force system applied to a muscle-building apparatus only for eccentric exercises, constituted by devices of the type consisting of air-spring, hydraulic piston, electric or similar ones, without using weight plates, especially designed and developed for obtaining huge handiness and which brings about great advantages.

It is a further objective of the present application to present a counter-force system for eccentric exercise with low cost for its industrial feasibility, but coupled to the requirements of robustness, safety and utility handiness, thus providing an additional option to the consumer public on the market of similar products. Unlike the usual weight-plate methods, the present one provides numberless possibilities and benefits to its users, thus becoming a system of great acceptance on the consumer market.

As it is known, markedly by those skilled in the art, the locomotive activity is the combination of different forms of muscular actions, which can also be encountered in isolation.

In isolated form, there are three different types of muscular actions, namely: isomeric, concentric and eccentric. In the combined form, there is, for instance, an extension-contraction cycle in which an eccentric action precedes a concentric one immediately, a fact that is easily noticed when you analyze walking steps or the handling of an object that surrounds you.

However, there are a number of differences between concentric and eccentric muscular actions, which have differentiated results on the human organism, a fact that should serve as a source for handling variables upon prescribing physical activities to the population in general, or upon planning the training of athletes.

Concentric muscular actions take place when there is a shortening of a muscle involved in a determined movement (when you lift a weight). Eccentric muscular actions take place when the muscles involved in the movement extend in a controlled manner (when you lower a weight). An isometric muscular action takes place when a muscle is activated and develops force without causing movement on an articulation. This action mode is the base of posture maintenance.

Neuromuscular Physiology

The type of muscular action employed provides different stimuli to the neuromuscular system. Studies verified, through minor electro myographic action, that eccentric actions activate a smaller number of muscular fibers.

Fewer motor units recruited indicate that more force per muscle unit is produced, and less neural stimulation is required for carrying out the movement, showing the greater neuromuscular efficiency of eccentric actions. It is suggested that the neural adaptations should take place more rapidly when emphasis is placed on the eccentric phase.

Fewer motor units recruited, using the same depolarization threshold may be the factor that accounts for this phenomenon. This knowledge can be used, for instance, for handling variables during rehabilitation of an injured member.

DRAWBACKS OF THE PRIOR ART

The great drawback of the models of muscle-building equipment lies in the fact that they use masses known as weight plates to exert force on bars or pedals.

More specifically, these masses are positioned on vertical rails and fixed at the ends of cables, which are directed to the pedals or to the handling bars by means of pulleys, wherein upon traction of the cables the weight plates are displaced from their rest position and always exert a growing force.

The great drawback of this force system lies in the fact that, since it depends on the gravitation action, the force is already in action when the traction on the cable begins.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Bearing in mind these drawbacks and after numberless researches and studies, the inventor, who is skilled in the art, has created and developed the object of the present invention, devising a counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment in which not only the mechanical and functional qualities were considered in designing and conceiving it, but also the shape, arrangement and location of its parts and components, which, being correctly positioned, have brought about an increase ion efficiency without entailing any expenditure.

Thus, the present patent was designed with a view to obtain a muscle-building-equipment system with as few parts as possible, suitably configured and arranged so as to enable the counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment to perform its functions efficiently and with matchless versatility, without the drawbacks already mentioned.

In the present patent application, one presents a counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment designed and developed according to the most modern techniques, thus enabling the use thereof on the most varied types of muscle-building equipment.

The innovative conception of this system enables the physical exercise equipment to achieve an excellent level of functionality, which is a counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment created to overcome the drawbacks caused by weight plates, which are traditionally used on such equipment.

The system of the present patent comprises the use of a pneumatic, hydraulic piston or the like for the functioning of eccentric exercise apparatus, which comprise a first movement carried out by the user by actuating a pedal, hand bar or the like, which is the concentric exercise. In this movement the user will not exert any force, and when this movement reaches determined amplitude the systems begins to exert some force, in order to return the movement. In this return the piston exerts the contrary force, and the user exerts force only in this phase of the exercise, which is the eccentric exercise.

The force exerted by the piston in its return movement can be adjusted suitably by means of discharge devices or the like.

It is pointed out that this functioning method can be used for all the existing apparatus.

Thus, it should be understood that the system in question is extremely simple in its conception, thus being easily feasible, but excellent practical and functional results are achieved, which provides innovative functionality to muscle-building equipment.

Designed with an innovative concept, this system results in a peculiar and, above all, characteristic functioning. Besides, the functional aspect, the method stands out for its versatility and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF FIGURES

For a better understanding of how the present “COUNTER-FORCE SYSTEM FOR ECCENTRIC-EXERCISE EQUIPMENT” is constituted illustrative designs are attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective top-side view of a muscle-building piece of equipment with the counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a muscle-building piece of equipment with the counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment, in which the arrows represent the return force of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

As the figures show, the “COUNTER-FORCE SYSTEM FOR ECCENTRIC-EXERCISE EQUIPMENT” the system to be applied on physical exercise equipment has been developed specifically for eccentric exercises, wherein the functioning of muscle-building equipment (1) enable initial movement of the pedal or hand bar (2) of the physical exercise equipment (5) to be carried out without load, that is to say, without effort on the part of the user and, upon reaching certain amplitude of the stroke, the system starts to exert the force in the opposite direction automatically, in order to return the pedal or hand bar (2) to its starting position, and in this movement the user exerts the eccentric exerciser.

The system can be applied to any type of physical exercise equipment (5), being constituted by a piston (3), which may be pneumatic, hydraulic or even electric, this system enabling free movement of the piston with the rod (4) in a direction and effecting the return automatically at the end of the stroke, and in this movement there is a force that can be adjusted. Thus, one can see that the “COUNTER-FORCE SYSTEM FOR ECCENTRIC-EXERCISE EQUIPMENT” proposed herein is a functioning system for physical exercise equipment of great usefulness, exhibiting all the practical and functional qualities that fully justify the request for a patent of invention. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment comprising a muscle-building equipment (1) comprising: a moveable rod (4); a piston (3) having a defined piston stroke; and at least one of a pedal or a hand bar (2) that actuates along the moveable rod (4) in response to the defined piston stroke, wherein an adjustable force is configured to return the piston (3) to a starting position upon reaching an end of the defined piston stroke via adjustment of the force.
 8. A counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment according to claim 7, wherein: the piston (3) freely moves with the moveable rod (4) in a first direction and carries out a return in a second direction automatically upon reaching the end of the defined piston stroke; and during the return in the second direction, the force is adjusted.
 9. A counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment according to claim 7, wherein the piston (3) is a pneumatic cylinder.
 10. A counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment according to claim 7, wherein the piston (3) is a hydraulic cylinder.
 11. A counter-force system for eccentric exercise equipment according to claim 7, wherein the piston (3) is an electrically-operated piston. 